VAN NUYS : City Eases Conditions on Doughnut Shop

It was an unlikely scenario--a doughnut shop allegedly luring criminals.

But the city Board of Zoning Appeals upheld this week an earlier decision that the Van Nuys shop had indeed become a public nuisance and should be required to meet several operating conditions.

The board, however, eased some of those conditions, first imposed in July.

The owners of the doughnut shop, Orville’s Originals at 6801 Sepulveda Blvd., would not have to erect gates to keep people out of the parking lot when it was closed, the board said Tuesday. Nor would Ulysses and Zuita Contador have to pay the city $4,062 for its investigation of the matter and hearings.

But the board ruled that limiting the shop’s hours and requiring a night security guard was in order because there was enough evidence of illegal activity around the small Sepulveda Boulevard mall the doughnut shop shares with a handful of other businesses.

“Our goal is not to put anybody out of business. Our goal is to get rid of the nuisance,” said Daniel Green, the associate zoning administrator who imposed the conditions after Tuesday’s ruling.

Green first ruled against the business in July after testimony from police, neighbors and City Councilman Marvin Braude’s staff that the doughnut shop and its parking lot had become a hangout for prostitutes and other criminals.

During review of the case, Green said, he could not tell for certain that it was the doughnut shop and not other businesses attracting the questionable element. Because other stores in the mall all close earlier in the evening, however--with the exception of a nearby 7-Eleven previously slapped with its own operating conditions--Orville’s Originals would be the store most affected by restrictions.

The Contadors could not be reached for comment. But self-proclaimed citizen crime fighter Mary Lou Holte--who operates out of the doughnut shop--said she was pleased with the board’s easing of the conditions.

Although the shop was under no obligation to implement the conditions while the case was being appealed, owners had already taken steps to address problems, Holte said.

“I was very impressed with the board,” she said. “This business has (made changes) on their own,” and the board took that into account.

Instead of operating 24 hours, the shop now closes from midnight to 5 a.m. and has put up numerous signs, declaring illegal everything from loitering to having an open container of alcohol in the parking lot.